[Immobilization of mixed bacteria by microcapsulation for hydrogen production--a trial of pseudo "Cell Factory"]

Sodium cellulose sulfate (NaCS)/Ploy-dimethyl-dially-ammonium-chloride (PDMDAAC) microcapsules were used as a novel pseudo "Cell Factory" to immobilize mixed bacteria for hydrogen production under anaerobic conditions. Compared to free cells, the hydrogen production was increased more than 30% with NaCS/PDMDAAC microcapsules as the pseudo "Cell Factory". The biomass was increased from 1.5 g/L in free cell culture to 3.2 g/L in the pseudo "Cell Factory". This pseudo "Cell Factory" system showed the excellent stability during 15 repeated-batches. The hydrogen yield maintained 1.73-1.81 mol H2/mol glucose. The fermentation cycle was shortened from 48 h to 24 h, resulting in an increase of 198.6% in the hydrogen production rate. There were high percentage of butyric acid and acetic acid in the culture broth, which meant that the pseudo "Cell Factory" established in the present work could be used for the multi-product system.